Bob Kinosian, of Wauwatosa, attended the 2018 State Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda. The Senate and Assembly are set to send dozens of changes in state law to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk.

Gov. Scott Walker, with help from the Mary and Don Miller family of Plainfield, flips the switch to light the 2018 state Capitol Christmas Tree in the rotunda on Tuesday. The family donated the nearly 40-foot fir tree from their front yard.

Bob Kinosian, of Wauwatosa, attended the 2018 State Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda. The Senate and Assembly are set to send dozens of changes in state law to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk.

A small group of protesters upset about GOP fast-tracked efforts to limit the power of the new Democratic governor and attorney general heckled outgoing Gov. Scott Walker during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony Tuesday in the Capitol rotunda.

Gov. Scott Walker, with help from the Mary and Don Miller family of Plainfield, flips the switch to light the 2018 state Capitol Christmas Tree in the rotunda on Tuesday. The family donated the nearly 40-foot fir tree from their front yard.

STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL

As Walker approached the podium in a Santa tie for one of his final traditions to carry out as governor — flipping the switch on the lights for the nearly 40-foot-tree decorated with ornaments made by elementary school students from around the state — one protester shouted "Hey Walker! Go home!"

Gov. Scott Walker arrives for the lighting of the 2018 State Capitol Christmas Tree in the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda.

STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL

Democrats have derided the lame-duck lawmaking as a cynical attempt to preserve power after Walker's re-election loss last month.

"If he wanted to put a stop to this, he could," said Russ Hahn, a 53-year-old attorney holding a sign that said "GOP Grinch Steals Democracy."

The fact that Walker was making no attempt to halt the effort "clearly indicates he wants to be able to control things outside the governor's office for the next four or eight years," Hahn said.

Later Tuesday, the public was ordered removed from Senate galleries after repeated warnings to be quiet. Spectators shouted "Shame!" and hurled complaints at senators, temporarily halting debate, as they walked out under police escort. Less than an hour later, Republicans said they would let people back in.

Gov. Scott Walker during the ceremony to light the 2018 State Capitol Christmas Tree in the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda.

STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL

Walker burst onto the national political scene in 2011 with an aggressive anti-union agenda. Many of the same protesters who confronted him then returned to the Capitol on Tuesday — albeit in far fewer numbers. Tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the Capitol in 2011, but only a few dozen were on hand Tuesday.